BELTON, Texas – LETU volleyball earned a hard-fought 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 20-25, 28-26) triumph over Concordia Texas at UMHB's Mayborn Campus Centin in the American Southwest Conference Quarterfinals Thursday.
The Yellowjackets improved to 17-9 on the season, while the Tornados finish the year at 10-15.
Natalie Connelly stuffed the stat sheet and
Kianna Crow registered her 14th double-double of the season, helping the 'Jackets advance past the opening round for the second time in five appearances.
In set one, Connelly and Crow paced the Yellowjackets in the opening set, combining for nine of the teams 13 kills. The Yellowjackets hit .324 (13-2-34), while the Comets registered seven errors and 15 kills in 43 attempts, posting a LETU operated with precision and capitalized on CTX errors. After a Concordia Texas kill made the score 18-15, LETU rattled of seven of the final nine points, including five in a row to claim the early advantage.
After seven ties and two lead changes in the opener, the Yellowjackets held the opposition at bay with a comfortable margin in game two. The teams traded service errors, the second handed LETU a 6-5 edge for the final time. Mini spurts from both squads prevented either side from pulling away. Connelly's smash delivered the final tally, nudging CTX to the brink of elimination.
Needing a win to stave off defeat, the Tornados collected just enough timely shots and exploited the suddenly discombobulated in a back-and-forth affair. Hitting .260 (27-7-77) through the first two games, LETU converted less than 6 percent (9-6-52), forcing a fourth set.
The Tornados positioned themselves for a comeback, needing four points to extend the match to a fifth and final set at 21-19. Needing just four points. While the Yellowjackets' offense returned to their winning formal but a pair of blocks and two attack errors over the next five points gave them the slimmest of margins at 23-22. Neither team gave in, trading eight consecutive side outs positioning the 'Jackets with their third match point. Playing in her first conference tournament match,
Hannah Payan slammed home the winner.
Connelly finished the night with eight kills, seven block assists and seven digs. Crow totaled 14 kills and digs on the night, with
Kaci Monk chipping in 10 points against two errors.
Defensively, a trio of Yellowjackets joined Crow with 10 or more balls dug out.
Courtney Edge led the way with 21 and
Maddy Denega accumulated. As part of her double-double,
Samantha Winkel kept 10 attacks from hitting the deck and assisted on night attacks.
Natalie Davenport matched Winkel with 19 helpers.
Concordia's last loss in the first match since a five-set defeat to UT Tyler in 2014.
LETU's only win before tonight was a four-game triumph against Hardin-Simmons in the 2019 quarterfinals.
Up Next:
The Yellowjackets advanced to the semifinals and take on UT Dallas at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Comets trail only ETBU's 19 ASC Championship appearances, qualifying each of the program's 18 seasons. The six-time ASC Champions had a bye Thursday, earning the No. 2 seed with a 15-9 record, including 13-4 in league action.
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